Anil Kapoor backs video social network Indi.com

I believe in the ideal of Indi as a way of empowering the next generation of talented individuals to let their voices be heard,” Kapoor said.Gaurav Laghate | ET Bureau | April 12, 2016, 07:38 IST

Actor Anil Kapoor has invested an undisclosed amount in Indi.com, a global video social network that’s set to launch in India. Indi.com allows individuals and companies to create and monetise content by sharing videos while integrating multiple social networks.

Artists, retailers, NGOs, celebrities and individuals can connect with fans and supporters, interacting with them using video.

Indi.com was started in 2012 in South California by ecommerce veterans Neel Grover and Greg Giraudi, both associated with Buy.com, Rakuten.com and Bluefly.com, and was officially launched across the US in 2013. Indi will launch in India on April 28.

Apart from Kapoor, Indian cofounders include duo Divyansh Bajpai, former managing partner at Nova Travel, and Shikha Uberoi, former Indian American professional tennis player.

"Indi is my way of giving back to India and paying forward all the opportunities my country has given me. I believe in the ideal of Indi as a way of empowering the next generation of talented individuals to let their voices be heard,” Kapoor said.

Grover, global CEO at Indi.com, told ET that India is a great opportunity considering its young population and high mobile internet users. "Indi is all about videos and discovery of talent," Grover said.

"Our platform is all about engagement and India has over 600 million consumers with smartphones and a large young user base. Given that 4G is going to change the dynamics here, I think it is the right time f or us to launch in India," he said.

Grover said he had been in talks with Kapoor for over a year and that at first, he was only planning to back the product as an investor. "It was only later, when we shared the whole plan, Anil also agreed to be the face of Indi.com India. He has also shot a commercial for Indi.com."

While users from 200 countries access the platform, India, as the second-largest base of smartphone users, has the first ever focused website outside the US. On the business model, Grover said Indi will launch with an open platform, allowing companies to start their own channels.

The platform will be ad-supported, with channel owners getting 70% of the revenue and Indi the remainder. "Apart from advertising, we may also have premium model for brands and ecommerce in future," he said.